Hydrometer-alarm



(No Mbde I v T. P. WHITTIER.

. HYDROMETER ALARM. v

N0. 360,980. Pa 6 t (1 pr. 12, 1887.

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I W, I TMMMPW-KLUZW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. \VHITTIER, OF EAST SAGINAW', MICHIGAN.

HYDROMETER-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,980, dated April12, 1887.

Application filed October 28, 1886. Serial No. 217,435. No model.)

Ill) all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LTHOMAs P. WHITTIER, of East Saginaw, in the county ofSaginaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Hydrometer-Alarms, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists in a hydrometeralarm, hereinafter fully described.

The drawing is a vertical section.

My invention is designed for use in a place where it is desirable toknow the density of water or other fluids, and to be informed at once ofany material change in its density.

I have devised my apparatus primarily for use in connection with steamsalt-works, to showwhether the waterof condensation of the steam used inheating the brine is fit'to be pumped back into a steam-boiler, or it istoo salt for that purpose; but the device may be used in any place whereit is necessary to keep track of changes in density in the fluid.

2 represents a vessel, of metal or any other suitable substance,perforated withholes 3, and provided at its upper end with a float, 5,so that when placed in a tank containing water or other liquid it willfloat therein, the

I water-level being indicated by the line 6.

14 represents the top of case 2, and from this I extend downward a tube,13, to serve as a guide for the hydrometer in its movements and to holdit upright.

1 represents an ordinary hydronieter, the lower bulb and weights beingindicated by 4, which is placed within the vessel 2, so that its upperend extends into the tube 13, and so that it will float freely in theliquid in which vessel 2 is immersed.

10 represents a metal plate having therethrough a small hole, which Iplace over the opening at the upper end of tube 13, and which ispreferably insulated (by insulating materials 15) from tube 14, thoughthis is not absolutely necessary. 4 11 represents a metal rod whoselower end is secured to the upper end of the hydrometer, and whichpasses through hole 12 in plate 10, making sliding contact with saidplate 10.

9 represents a binding-screw, the lower end of which is directly abovethe upper end of rod 11, tapped through a metal plate, 17, secured tothe insulating material 15, so that said binding-post 9 and plate 17 areinsulated from all other parts-of the apparatus.

7 represents an electrical generator, the poles of which are connected,respectively, with plate 10 and the binding-post 9, and 8 represents anelectric bell in said circuit. The

generator and bell are, of course, intended to be placed in a convenientplace, and where the sound of the bell can be heard by the person whomit is intended to warn.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: The vessel2, with thehydrometer, being placed within a tank containing liquid, floats uponthe surface of the liquid in the'tank and follows the rise or fall oftheliquid therein through the medium of float 5, and for this purpose thoseparts of the electrical circuits which connect with binding-plate 9 andpost 10 should be of flexible wire. The hydrometer 1 floats in theliquid at a height corresponding to its density. As the densityincreases the hydrometer will rise, and as it decreases the hydrometerwill fall. Binding-post 9 is screwed in or out, as the case may be,until the hydrometer at a given density of the liquid will rise, so thatthe upper end of rod 11 will strike the lower end of binding-post 9, andthus put plate 10 and binding-post 9 in electrical connection and causethe bell 8 to ring.

With this device in a water-tank an engineer can pump water from saidtank into his boilers so long as the hell 8 is silent without fear ofinjuring the boilers by salt, and will receive immediate notice when thewater in the tank becomes too salt for use.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A case adapted to contain a hydrometerand permit its free movementtherein, a float secured to said case, an insulated plate on said caseconnected with one end of an electrical circuit with a rod on saidhydrometer, and an insulated binding-post above the end of said metalrod connected with the other end of said electrical circuit,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS P. \VHIT'IIER.

\Vitnesses:

Grants. 11. CAMP, ELLA GLOBENSKY.

